Comments on 3 Nephi 8 The destruction detailed in this chapter was predicted in 2 Nephi 26:3-8. As the people probably had access to this text (cf. Alma 63:2) one could see the increase in baptisms in 7:26, after a long period of decline (cf. 7:14-25, esp. 7:21), as being out of fear of the impending disasters. Hence the watching and disputations among what I would assume were sign seekers in v. 3- 4. The destruction is probably a result of seismic and volcanic action. What we know of Geology today neatly explains the earthquakes, vapor of darkness (ash fall), massive wind storms, and lightning. However, in ancient times these things were obviously not so well understood. As we would expect, this lack of understanding is reflected in the text. Note in v. 6 and 12 they see the thunder as the cause of the earthquakes, and not the other way around. For a brief and interesting review of the history of Geology, see: http://www.worldbook.com/fun/ssystem/earth/html/geology.htm Central and South America are dotted with volcanos. For a review of the volcanos of Central and South America, see: http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vw.html v1-4 According to Nephi's record (v. 1), if he didn't make any mistakes (v. 2), the thirty third year passed without the fulfilment of Samuel's sign of three days of darkness (v. 3). This results in a considerable uproar among the people, even though there were so many other signs (v. 4). v1 "a just man who did keep the record", cross reference with 23:7 indicates it was in fact Nephi who kept the record. This agrees with the statement "he truly did many miracles" in this verse per Mormon's statement in 7:19-20. v2 "if there was no mistake made", even though the man is considered "just" and "cleansed every whit from his iniquity" per v. 1, Mormon still allows room for honest mistakes. People commonly expect infallibility from religious leaders, particularly ones as prominent as was Nephi. Mormon's approach is the correct one. Just because a person is sanctified doesn't mean they won't make honest mistakes. Its simply a function of being mortal. v3-4 "the people began to look...for the sign...doubtings and disputations among the people", we would have to assume "the people" here are the disbelieving majority, just as in 1:5-7. We know from the preceding chapter that few believed (7:21). And, while "many" were baptized (7:26) in the year preceding the sign, it is plain from the description of the destruction in this chapter and the next that the majority of the people are wicked and therefore killed. No quantitative terms are given, but with entire cities being swallowed up its plain the destruction among the people was massive. And thus the wickedness among "the people" was great as well. As "the people" would have been the disbelievers they would not have realized what was to precede the three days of darkness per the original Nephi's prediction in 2 Ne. 26. As such, it is rather ironic they never get to see the sign they are looking for because they get wiped out beforehand. v4 "notwithstanding so many signs had been given", it is the nature of unbelievers to ignore all of the evidence in favor of the belief and focus solely on perceived flaws and failures. Their disbelief precedes the collection and review of evidence, so they are simply looking for things to substantiate their preconceived disbelief. v5-18 Four days into the new year (v. 5) massive natural disasters (v. 6-7) cause pervasive destruction in all of the lands of the Lehites (v. 8-12). No part of the land of the Lehites is left unaffected (v. 13-18). v5 "in the thirty and fourth year", the Nephites start counting from the sign of Christ's birth, cf. 2:5-8. The Nephites must have been observing the religious calendar according to the Law as well as at least 3 secular calendars in order to keep their time. According to the most recent secular calendar, it was the 34th year, and it would have corresponded with the Passover of the religious calendar according to the Law. v6 "tempest", The American Heritage Dictionary defines this term as "1. A violent windstorm, frequently accompanied by rain, snow, or hail. 2. Furious agitation, commotion, or tumult; an uproar." v8 "Zarahemla did take fire", cp. Hela. 13:13. v12 "more great and terrible destruction in the land northward", this was where Nephi was entirely rejected and ultimately expelled because of their unbelief some 30 years earlier, cf. Hela. 7:1. We can conclude from this that things hadn't improved any there since then, hence the destruction visited on them. v15 "there were some cities which remained", we would assume the city Bountiful was one of these given the Temple was spared destruction per 11:1. v19-25 After three hours of complete upheaval the earthquakes and storms cease (v. 19) and a tangible overpowering blackness hangs in the air (v. 20-22). v20 "the inhabitants...could feel the vapor of darkness", the comment in 10:13 indicates this "vapor of smoke and darkness" had "overpowered" some people such that they died. It is common for there to be casualties due to asphyxiation in volcanic events because of ash fall. v24-25 "great and terrible...great and terrible...great and terrible", this descriptor is commonly used for the Day of the Lord, cp. Joel 2:11. v24 "O that we had repented before this great and terrible day", the survivors lament the destruction, but for the dead, referred to in v. 25, it is too late, cp. Hela. 13:30-39. The survivors lament both the physical and spiritual fate of the dead. Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.